Touch, a necessity for life

Receiving touch is necessary for life! 

Consider an observation in the US, in the early part of the 20th century, that babies that had been placed in an orphanage waiting for adoption had a poor chance of living.  The survival rate for babies under a year old was basically 0%!  The cause of death was described as “marasmus”  i.e.  the babies wasted away.  This was despite the fact that they were given the best of care:  well-fed, clean nappies, well ventilated rooms, a clean environment.  Despite this good care, they failed to survive.  Why?

The current vogue at the time was a “scientific” approach to caring for babies - physical touch and  cuddling of babies did not fit in with this approach.  Hygiene was considered all important.  Yet, in less hygienic conditions where babies were cuddled, and held, there was a low death rate.   There was a cost to the "clinical approach" - babies treated in this way failed to thrive!  Once the clinical approach was changed so that staff were encouraged to cuddle and hold babies in the course of their normal care, the children now thrived - they put on weight and death rates fell!

Who would have thought that something so simple as touch is a requirement for normal development?  Touch stimulates the nervous system and promotes normal growth.  This need for touch is independent of age.  Everyone and every body needs some therapeutic touch.  

When was the last time you had a massage?